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THE LAKE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

The Board of Lake County Commissioners has
both quasi-legislative and quasi-administrative powers and through resolutions
adopted during their regular weekly meeting, sets the administrative policy for
county government. While the Commissioners have no power to initiate
legislation, they do exercise powers granted to them by the Ohio General
Assembly through state law.

The Commissioners are responsible for the appropriations of the
county tax revenues through the adoption of the annual county budget. The
County operates on a January 1 through December 31 fiscal year and must adopt
the final budget no later than April 1 of each year. The budget
includes appropriations for the numerous county offices, including those
offices headed by other elected officials. The Commissioners have the power to
levy taxes and to approve the placement of tax levies and bond issues on the
ballot for consideration by county voters. The Commissioners also administer
all federal grant monies.

The Commissioners hold title to all county
owned property and are responsible for the upkeep. By law, they must provide
office space for all county offices. They must build the facilities necessary
to house various offices such as the Courtrooms, the Jail, Engineer's
facilities and parking. The Commissioners award all contracts for purchase and
construction projects.

2017 Holidays for Which County Offices Are Closed

First day of January (Monday, January 2, 2017), New Year’s Day
observed

Third Monday in
January (January 16), Martin Luther King Day

Third Monday in
February (February 20), Presidents Day

Last Monday in
May (May 29), Memorial Day

Fourth of July
(Tuesday, July 4), Independence Day

First Monday in
September (September 4), Labor Day

Second Monday in
October (October 9), Columbus Day

Eleventh day of
November (Friday, November 10), Veterans' Day observed

Fourth Thursday
in November (November 23), Thanksgiving Day

Friday after
Thanksgiving Day (November 24)Twenty-fifth day of December (Monday, December 25)

The Ohio House voted to override the Governor’s
veto of the MCO budget amendment and we have been waiting for the Ohio Senate to
concur with that vote. The Senate plans to return to session to address the
House’s veto overrides on August 23,
2017 at 1:30 pm.

We ask that Lake County resident focus their
advocacy efforts for the MCO amendment so that there is a favorable outcome on
August 23rd. It’s extremely important that we continue to
communicate with the Senate so that they do not lose steam on this issue. Lake County stands to lose $1,671,199.00, and Laketran stands to lose $417,800.00..

ACTION ITEMS:

Call our Senators today and ask them to
commit to voting for an override of the Governor’s MCO amendment veto

Please vote to override the Governor’s veto
of the MCO sales tax amendment. The transition aid currently in the budget will
only provide counties and transit authorities a one-time allocation to help
them mitigate the loss of a $207 million revenue stream. The MCO sales tax
amendment helps provide a mechanism for counties and transit authorities to
replace some of the revenue they are losing once this transition aid ends.

The Lake County Board of Commissioners honored the 4-H Club members and Nancy Kochevar, one of the founders of the shooting club, with a certificate of recognition for their success at Nationals and for their continued growth and innovation. The recognition took place during the July 6, 2017 Commissioners Meeting.

Nancy Kochevar, Chris Kochevar and Randy Brewster started a
shooting sports club, Young Guns in our county in 2013. This was a vision
the 3 had and they executed it.

In these 4 short years the club grew from 7 members to
almost 60 members (which they had to cap as a result of a long waiting
list). Their first year the club was able to send youth to nationals, not
1 youth, but 4 youth were eligible in 2015. They have had returning
members in 2016 and this year they sent 8 youth to nationals. One youth from
the club placed and took stage at nationals. This same youth is now taking what
he learned from this club and is starting a shooting sport club up by him at
college. His goal is to help teach youth and college mates the importance
of firearm safety, what he learned from being in the Young Guns.

They have increased the amount of advisors in their club
from them (the founding 3) to 11, and have had these advisors trained in their
perspective disciplines. As a result of that they now are able to offer
archery, pistol, rifle, air pistol, steel rifle, steel pistol, shotgun, and
muzzle loading. Youth members are taking multiple disciplines to expand their
knowledge of firearms, because of this. The Young Guns, club under these 3
advisors supervision, completed service projects where they helped build
a range at one of our metro parks, they also helped boots and saddle (where
they meet and practice) expand and build a range. The club has successfully
held fund-raisers every year, car washes, and a turkey shoot (which is
their biggest fund-raiser). They have also obtained many sponsors and
grants. With these funds obtained they have been able to purchase or have
donated for the club, bows, rifles, pistols, ammunition, travel expenses for
the Ohio team to travel to nationals, range time, a facility as well as a
shooting trailer.

The impact of this innovative activity is that Lake County
now has a very active and successful shooting sports club. Young Guns is
our fastest growing club in Lake County. They have been able in these 3
years to obtain resources and materials so Lake County youth can have the
opportunity to be learning about shooting sports in a safe and successful
manner.

The club has and continues to look at how they can expand
with their ongoing fundraising and recruitment of donors, which assists the
club in accommodating the rapid growth. This vision and planning has
assisted the club in being so successful.

They have been a great addition to our 4-H program and have
brought a heighten awareness to shooting sports and the Lake County's 4-H
program. Nancy, Chris and Randy have been huge innovators for the shooting
sports program in Lake County and nationally. They have done a great deal in
just 4 short years with plans to continue to grow in the future!

The Lake County Board of Commissioners proclaimed May 2017 as Foster Parent Recognition Month during the May 4, 2017 Commissioners Meeting. A resolution was presented to Mr. Gene Tetrick, Supervisor of the Substitute Care Unit in Children Services, Ms. Lori O'Brien, Administrator of the Children Services Division and Mr. Matt Battiato, Director of the Lake County Job and Family Services Department. Foster families are a fundamental part of providing constant nurturing and support to children and families who need time to heal and put their lives back together. Citizens are encouraged to demonstrate their respect and gratitude for foster parents who unselfishly share their lives. For more information on how to become a Foster Parent please click here. To view the resolution please click here.

Out of over 900 students from 24 schools in Lake County, the Board of Commissioners presented the awards for this year's Clean & Green Poster Contest Winners during the April 25, 2017 Commissioners Meeting.
From the left: Commissioner Jerry Cirino, Middle School Winner Autumn Farrar from Willoughby Middle School, Commissioner Daniel Troy, Elementary and Overall Winner Kaitlyn Valentic from All Saints, High School Winner Lindsey Rich of Lake Catholic and Commissioner John Hamercheck. Congratulations to all the winners of the 2017 Clean and Green Lake County Poster Contest!

During the April 20, 2017 Commissioners Meeting the Board declared April 15 through May 31, 2017 Clean and Green Lake County. The Board encourages residents, businesses and civic organizations to identify areas in their neighborhoods in need of attention and to undertake clean-up activities. The Lake County Solid Waste District has scheduled a Computer Collection on Saturday, April 29 and a Scrap Tire Collection on Saturday, May 6, 2017 to assist residents with their clean-up efforts. Those from the Utilities Department accepting the award are Matt Armand, Director of Administration, David Schick, Public Services Coordinator and Randy Rothlisberger Sanitary Engineer.Click here to read the resolution.

The Lake County Board of Commissioners present a certificate to honor Ms. Chris Young as the 2016 Child Advocate of the Year by the Lake County Department of Job and Family Services. The event took place on April 12, 2017 in Veteran's Park in Downtown Painesville as part of a month-long campaign to support the prevention of child abuse, raise awareness to the signs of abuse, and to report anything suspicious.

Please
take this opportunity to share your thoughts on the Lake County, Ohio Survey for Consolidated Plan FY 2017-2021 by completing this survey. Your responses will be combined to help identify
local needs and suggest projects and actions to be prioritized. This
survey can be taken by a variety of people that know Lake County by working or
living here. The information you provide will be summarized to help
develop the FY17-21 Lake County Consolidated Plan, a required strategy to
plan for the use of approximately $1.6 million dollars from the United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that is awarded to the Board
of Lake County Commissioners on an annual basis. The general
needs measured in this survey cross several categories that relate to the
HUD funding sources of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home
Investment Partnership Program (HOME): HOUSING, PUBLIC SERVICE,
INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY FACILITIES, SPECIAL
NEEDS, and HOMELESSNESS.
To take the survey please click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LakeOHConPlan17_21

Please
take this opportunity to share your thoughts on the Lake County, Ohio Survey for Consolidated Plan FY 2017-2021 completing this survey. Your responses will be combined to help identify
local needs and suggest projects and actions to be prioritized. This
survey can be taken by a variety of people that know Lake County by working or
living here. The information you provide will be summarized to help
develop the FY17-21 Lake County Consolidated Plan, a required strategy to
plan for the use of approximately $1.6 million dollars from the United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that is awarded to the Board
of Lake County Commissioners on an annual basis. The general
needs measured in this survey cross several categories that relate to the
HUD funding sources of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home
Investment Partnership Program (HOME): HOUSING, PUBLIC SERVICE,
INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY FACILITIES, SPECIAL
NEEDS, and HOMELESSNESS.
To take the survey please click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LakeOHConPlan17_21

During the March 30, 2017 Commissioners Meeting a resolution was presented to Ms. Cristen Kane, RSVP Director, in recognition of the RSVP volunteers who have served more than 95 agencies across the county and provided over 62,000 hours of service. Click here to view the resolution.

On Wednesday, January 13, 2016, local emergency sirens in Lake, western Ashtabula and northern Geauga counties will be tested to make sure the sirens are in good working order. On January 13 at 11:00 a.m. you will hear a steady siren tone for approximately three minutes. This test is part of the local emergency preparedness program, conducted to ensure that the sirens around the Perry Power Plant are working properly. This is only a test.

Lake County Engineer, James R. Gills, announced that Vrooman Road between SR 84 and I-90 is closed to all traffic due to high water conditions. In addition, the flooding has caused damage to the pavement that will need to be repaired prior to the road opening again. It is anticipated that the road will be reopened to traffic on Tuesday, July 7, 2015. However, this date will be re-evaluated once all of the water has receded and the extend of the damage can be determined.

Drivers are reminded that they should not move and/or drive around the barricades. These are posted for the public's safety.

Lake County Engineer, James R. Gills, announced today that the Ruhlin Company, the contractor for the Vrooman Road/Bridge Project, will begin installing storm sewers in the Vrooman Road and Seeley Road area on Monday, May 11, 2015. Barricades will be installed approximately one mile north of I-90 restricting traffic from accessing the Grand River and Indian Point Park. All access to Indian Point Park will be from the east end of Seeley Road. Drivers are advised to follow the posted detour via Vrooman Road (south), Carter Road and Paine Road. Access will be maintained to the residents on Vrooman Road. The road is expected to re-open on June 15, 2015. At that time, full access between SR 84 and I-90 will be provided via a temporary low level bridge. The one lane temporary bridge will be controlled by traffic signals. The temporary bridge will be located in the same location and at the same elevation as the existing bridge thus still making it subject to flooding. It is a requirement of the project plans that the temporary bridge remain in place and be useable by the public until the permanent high level bridge is complete and open to the public at the end of 2016.